THE Archbishop of York has spoken of his profound sorrow at the “incomprehensible”

suffering in Gaza.

Dr John Sentamu yesterday held a service of prayer and lament for the situation in Gaza at the chapel in Bishopthorpe Palace.

He said: “Friday is a holy day of prayer for Muslims and the beginning of the Sabbath for Jews.

“Today it is a day when God weeps for the acts of the children of Abraham in Gaza and Israel.”

Writing on his website, the Archbishop said he had not spoken out before about the situation in Gaza because he had not known what to say.

He said: “The incomprehensible suffering of the innocent leaves one in a place of profound sorrow and silence in the face of such suffering.

“Sending rockets into Israel will not achieve those aims of Hamas for an end to illegal settlements and a return to the pre-1967 land agreements.

“The state of Israel will not achieve an end to the smuggling of arms and armed resistance through the bombing of Gaza from land, sea and air.

“It is high time that all people in the region recognised the right of the state of Israel to exist and the need for the creation of a viable Palestinian state.

“Therefore the international community must redouble its efforts to bring about this reality and a lasting peace. We have all been guilty to ignore the danger signs over the last eight years.”